Multicomponent Dispensing Device For Liquid And Powdery Materials

ABSTRACT

A multicomponent dispensing device for liquid and powdery materials comprises a blister part having at least two chambers that are arranged adjacent each other and sealed by means of a film, a blister base with at least one dispensing member acting upon the chambers, an outlet, and closed channels or channels with sutures arranged between following chambers and/or between the last chambers with respect to the outlet. The blister part is fastened to the blister base in such a manner that the sutures yield so that the materials may pass through. The dispensing device comprises a static mixer. By using dispensing members for the simultaneous discharge of chamber rows and the integration of a mixer, a dispensing device is realized that allows, by means of inexpensive elements, a very precise delivery of well mixed substances.

The present invention relates to a multicomponent dispensing device for liquid and powdery materials according to the preamble of claim 1. Such dispensing devices are based on the blister system and are e.g. described in EP-B-1 108 656. Another dispensing device for dispensing a single dose of the components is described in WO98/01360.

Both of these references of the prior art have in common that the dispensing or plunger portion is designed to act upon at least two containers at the same time to enable an approximately simultaneous delivery of the two components, and that the components subsequently reach a common outlet.

While it may be sufficient for simple applications as e.g. in cosmetics or when mixing low viscosity substances that the two substances are mixed with each other in a common outlet, it is of utmost importance in applications in medicine or dental technique that the substances are thoroughly mixed in a precisely defined mutual ratio, and it is consequently the object of the present invention to provide a dispensing device for single use in which the substances are thoroughly mixed in a precise mutual ratio. This object is attained by the device according to claim 1.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device having chambers whose volume can be increased and which are suitable for receiving tablets or the like components. This object is attained by a dispensing device as defined in claim 19.

Further advantages and embodiment variants are defined in the dependent claims. The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to drawings of exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention in a perspective view,

FIG. 1A shows a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 2-4 schematically show the operations during the delivery of the materials,

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment variant,

FIG. 6 shows a dispensing device having a filling level adjusting device,

FIG. 6A shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 6,

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment variant having an integrated mixer,

FIG. 7A shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 7,

FIGS. 8-10 show another embodiment variant in a perspective view, in a sectional view, and in the closed position,

FIGS. 11-14 show further embodiment variants,

FIG. 15 shows a variant of a chamber surface in a sectional view according to line XV-XV in FIG. 14,

FIG. 16 shows another variant of the blister part having a tablet container in a sectional view according to line XVI-XVI in FIG. 17,

FIG. 17 shows the dispensing device of FIG. 16 from above,

FIG. 18 shows another design of the blister base and of the dispensing members, and

FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment having extensible chambers.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment variant of a dispensing device 1 comprising a film portion, hereinafter called blister part 2, that has four chambers 3, 4 and 5, 6 and is arranged on a blister base 7 in such a manner that the chambers 3, 4 and 5, 6 that are interconnected by channels 8 and 9 are sealed by sutures 8S and 9S. Chambers 3 and 5 nearer to the delivery end have respective channels 10 and 11 with outlet sutures 10S and 11S that lead to a static mixer 12.

Instead of welding, the channels between the chambers or the outlet may also be sealed or closed, or the two layers—the blister part and the blister base—connected to one another by other techniques. However, it is important that the sutures or closures are of such a nature that they yield when a pressure is applied to the chambers so that the content of one chamber may be transferred to the other chamber. Generally, this is the case due to the fact that the sutures separate from the blister base. Alternatively, detachable welded or adhesive joints in the channels may be provided. In the following, seams of all types will be designated as sutures in the channels that detach under pressure to create a passage.

During use of the dispensing device, i.e. when pressure is applied to chambers 4 and 6, sutures 8S and 9S are detached from the base and the content of chambers 4 and 6 is transferred to chambers 3 and 5. During continued application of pressure to chambers 3 and 5, the already premixed substances are transferred via the detached outlet sutures 10S and 11S to mixer 12.

In the present exemplary embodiment, blister base 7 has two adjacent dispensing members 13 and 14 that may also be injection-molded like the blister base and are connected to the latter, respectively to first dispensing member 13, by hinges 15 and 16. First dispensing member 13 has a locking knob 17 that fits into a corresponding opening 18 in blister part 2 and blister base 7.

FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate the distinct dispensing steps, in which the two dispensing members 13 and 14 are first folded in FIG. 2 around hinge 15 and hinge 16, then first dispensing member 13 is pressed on the two chambers 4 and 6 at the rear with respect to the mixer, whereby the components from these chambers are transferred via the now yielding sutures to forward chambers 3 and 5 and locking knob 17 engages, whereupon second dispensing member 14 is folded down over hinge 16 in order to press the two mixed substances from chambers 3 and 5 into and through the mixer via outlet sutures 10S and 11S that are yielding too.

The dispensing members may be folded over and pressed down either by hand or by means of a dispensing appliance that is suitably designed for receiving the dispensing device and folding and pressing down the dispensing members. However, it is also possible to use a dispensing appliance that acts upon the chambers directly and consecutively.

FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment variant of chambers 20, 21 and 22, 23, respectively, in which these chambers taper toward the outlet end in order to be dispensed as uniformly and completely as possible.

In FIG. 5 it is shown exemplarily that the chambers may have unequal dimensions, chambers 24 and 25 of blister part 28 being smaller than the previously illustrated ones and also smaller than the other chambers 26 and 27, and may additionally have a different shape. The remaining parts of this dispensing device are the same as according to FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 6 and 6A, a dispensing device 29 is provided with a filling level adjusting device 30 as it is e.g. described in WO2004/110854 to the applicant of the present invention. With regard to FIG. 6 and the enlarged detail view 6A, only some essential elements of the device are described while the remaining parts may be designed as before. Blister part 31 with chambers 32 and 33, channels 34 and 35 with sutures 34S and 35S, blister base 7, and the two dispensing members 13 and 14 are depicted while FIG. 6, in contrast to FIG. 1, shows a view from below, i.e. on blister base 7. The blister base includes an outlet section 43 with outlets 43A and 43B. Between blister channels 34 and 35 and outlets 43A and 43B, respective restrictors or drop formers in the form of small connecting channels 35D are located. It is thus possible to form single drops. This is necessary in the case of an excessive pressure to prevent that the low viscosity components spurt out.

FIG. 6A illustrates filling level adjusting device 30 with the two leveling chambers 36 and 37 as well as filter 38 and inlet section 30E as described in the cited PCT application to the applicant of the present invention. The leveling device allows to ensure that enclosed air may escape and possibly existing filling level differences are eliminated before a mixer is attached. At first, dispensing takes place until both components are visible inside the leveling chambers, whereupon the filling level adjusting device is withdrawn and a mixer can be mounted.

The use of such a filling level adjusting device requires the application of a separate mixer, as illustrated in FIG. 7A on an enlarged scale, mixer 39 having a locking portion 40 with a step 41 that engages behind one or several snap members 42 of outlet section 43 of the blister base of dispensing device 44. In this manner, the connection between the mixer and the blister base is only detachable by destroying parts of the device. The outlet section again comprises connecting channel 35D leading to outlet 43A or 43B, respectively.

Alternatively, the mixer inlet section and the outlet section of the dispensing device may be designed such that the mixer is attachable removably.

For each outlet channel 10 and 11, respectively 35, blister base 45 of device 44 according to FIGS. 7 and 7A comprises a hydrophobic filter 46 that is mounted in an opening. The hydrophobic filter allows evacuating the air contained in the system prior to dispensing, the components flowing around the filter as in a bypass after the channel sutures have again been detached.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 8 to 10, the blister chambers can easily be filled after the blister part has been connected to the base. In the view of the base according to FIGS. 8 and 10, device 47 comprises a blister base 48 having four filling apertures 49A-D, i.e. one filling aperture for each chamber. After having connected blister part 50 to blister base 48 by welding, sealing, or similar techniques, the chambers are filled via filling apertures 49A-D and closed by means of closures 51A-D that are attached to straps 52A-D, as appears in FIG. 10. However, it is also possible to use separate closures, and a filling aperture is not necessarily required for each chamber.

FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate a small fraction of the large diversity of possible variations. In FIG. 11, dispensing device 53 has two adjacent chambers 55 and 56 requiring only one dispensing member 54 in order to dispense the material from the two chambers 55 and 56.

In FIG. 1, 12, or 13, the chambers are arranged in two rows, one row comprising two or three adjacent chambers, respectively, and two rows being arranged one after the other with respect to the outlet, thereby forming two or three columns. It is apparent that both the number of chambers in a row and the number of chambers in a column may vary, i.e. may be greater than three or two, respectively. Each row requires a dispensing member that is connected to another dispensing member or to the blister base by a hinge.

Dispensing devices 57 and 59 according to FIG. 12 or 13 allow dispensing in analogy to the device according to FIG. 1, the components from the rearward chambers being transferred to the forward chambers and then completely dispensed via channels 58A, 58B, 58C with outlet sutures 58S through the mixer. In FIGS. 12 and 13, two locking knobs 17 and 17A are depicted that are pluggable into openings 18 and 18A.

Based on FIG. 1, FIG. 14 illustrates that mixer 60 or its enclosure, respectively, can be formed integrally with blister base 61 of device 62. The remaining elements can be realized according to FIG. 1, 13, or any of the other figures.

With regard to the shapes of the chambers it is apparent that a large diversity is conceivable. Instead of rectangular, oval, or tapering chambers, e.g. round chambers may be used. The tapering shape of chambers 55 and 56 of FIG. 11 ensures a more uniform delivery of the substances.

It often advantageous to allow for a volume leveling by a partially folded or concave configuration of the film side of the chambers located forwardly with respect to the mixer which are filled when the content from the rearward chambers is transferred to the forward chambers. In the latter case, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the previously concave portion 77K of forward chamber 77 is thus pressed outward and becomes convex, thereby resulting in a volume enlargement. It is obvious that the material of the blister part has to be selected accordingly.

Another volume enlargement is illustrated in FIG. 19 where blister part 70 of dispensing device 69 has chambers 72 and 74 located at the rear with respect to its outlet as well as two forward chambers 71 and 73 of blister part 70 that are attached to blister base 7. Forward chambers 71 and 73 have respective annular zones 75, 76 whose inner sides are less solidly sealed, welded or glued to the blister base, as in the case of the sutures, such that the inner sides of the zones are detached when the content of the rearward chambers is transferred to the forward chambers, thereby allowing a volume enlargement of the forward chambers. The width of the annular zone depends on the desired volume enlargement.

In FIGS. 16 and 17, another variant of blister part 82 is illustrated where forward chamber(s) 80 is/are provided with a compartment 78 that allows introducing a tablet 79, e.g. in the form of a lyophilisate, that dissolves in a liquid from the rearward chamber. The compartment in the chamber may be shaped to receive the tablet but not sealed so as to prevent that the inflowing liquid may reach the tablet.

Alternatively, the contour of the compartment may be connected to the blister base in order to seal the compartment. In this case, the contour of the compartment should be connected to the base in such a manner that it is detached in the same way as closed channels 83 between the chambers and 84 between chambers 80 and the outlet when the liquid enters, and releases the tablet.

A dispensing device having chambers whose volume increases when a liquid enters, and/or at least one integrated tablet compartment, is also advantageous without an associated mixer.

For a better handling of the device during manual dispensing, according to FIG. 18, blister base 66 as well as the dispensing member, respectively dispensing members 67 and 68 of dispensing device 65, may be provided with impressions 63 and 64 serving as finger rests for an optimum position of the fingers.

As follows from the descriptions the described devices are advantageous particularly for single dose applications in medicine, but they may also be used e.g. in dental technique or in industrial applications where only small amounts e.g. of an adhesive are required. This is particularly also the case in systems whose components are not long term stable and have to be premixed or dissolved only shortly before they can be mixed and dispensed. Furthermore, all applications have in common that no closure stopper is required, not even if a mixer is used. 

1. A multicomponent dispensing device for liquid and powdery materials, comprising: a blister part having at least two chambers that are arranged adjacent each other and sealed by means of a film; a blister base with at least one dispensing member acting upon the chambers; an outlet; closed channels or channels with sutures that are configured to be arranged between successive chambers and/or between the last chambers with respect to the outlet; wherein the blister part is configured to be fastened to the blister base in such a manner that closed portions of the closed channels or sutures yield when a pressure is applied to the chambers so that the materials may pass through, and the dispensing device includes a static mixer.
 2. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the mixer is removably attached to the blister base.
 3. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the mixer is non-removably attached to the blister base.
 4. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the mixer is produced integrally with the blister base.
 5. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the blister part of the dispensing device includes two chambers and one dispensing member.
 6. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the blister part of the dispensing device has at least two rows of chambers that are arranged one after the other with respect to the outlet, each row comprises at least one chamber and is configured to be consecutively actuatable by dispensing members, and the dispensing members are configured to be hinged to one another and to the blister base.
 7. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the blister base and the dispensing member next to the blister base comprise at least one locking means.
 8. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the chambers are approximately rectangular, or square, or tapered toward the outlet, or round in shape.
 9. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the chambers located forward with respect to the outlet are connected to the blister base via annular zones, and the connection between the inner side of the zones and the blister base is configured to be detachable from the blister base when the materials are transferred from the rearward to the forward chambers in order to increase the volume of the forward chambers.
 10. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the chamber is provided on its film side with a concave portion or the chamber is folded on its film side in order to provide a volume enlargement when filled.
 11. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein chambers have filling apertures in the blister base that are sealable by respective closures attached to the blister base, or by separate closures.
 12. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a dispensing appliance that is adapted to fold the dispensing members and press them onto the chamber rows.
 13. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a dispensing appliance that is adapted to act upon the chamber rows directly and consecutively.
 14. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the blister base comprises at least one hydrophobic filter.
 15. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein a filling level adjusting device is connectable to the outlet, wherein the filling level adjusting device is configured to have at least two leveling chambers.
 16. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein means for forming individual drops are provided prior to the mixer.
 17. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the blister base as well as the dispensing member or the dispensing members of the dispensing device are provided with impressions configured to serve as finger rests.
 18. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the forward chambers has a compartment for storing a further component that is arranged such that a liquid can enter into the compartment during dispensing in order to dissolve the component.
 19. A multicomponent dispensing device for liquid and powdery materials, comprising: a blister part having at least two chambers that are arranged adjacent each other and sealed by means of a film; a blister base with at least one dispensing member acting upon the chambers; an outlet; and closed channels or channels with sutures configured to be arranged between successive chambers and/or between the last chambers with respect to the outlet; wherein the blister part is configured to be fastened to the blister base in such a manner that the closed portions or sutures yield when a pressure is applied to the chambers so that the materials may pass through, and at least one of the forward chambers is adapted to change its volume under the action of an entering liquid.
 20. The dispensing device according to claim 19, wherein at least one forward chamber has a compartment for storing a further component that is arranged such that a liquid can enter into the compartment during dispensing in order to dissolve the component.
 21. The dispensing device according to claim 19, wherein the chambers located forward with respect to the outlet are connected to the blister base via annular zones, and the connection between the inner side of the zones and the blister base is configured to be detachable from the blister base when the materials are transferred from the rearward to the forward chambers in order to increase the volume of the forward chambers.
 22. The dispensing device according claim 19, wherein the surface of the chamber is provided on its film side with a concave portion or the chamber is folded on its film side in order to provide a volume increase when filled.
 23. The dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein the blister base and the dispensing member next to the blister base comprise at least one locking means.
 24. The dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein the chambers located forwardly with respect to the outlet are connected to the blister base via annular zones, and the connection between the inner side of the zones and the blister base is configured to be detachable from the blister base when the materials are transferred from the rearward to the forward chambers in order to increase the volume of the forward chambers.
 25. The dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein the surface of the chamber is provided on its film side with a concave portion or the chamber is folded on its film side in order to provide a volume enlargement when filled.
 26. The dispensing device according to claim 11, further comprising a dispensing appliance that is adapted to fold the dispensing members and press them onto the chamber rows.
 27. The dispensing device according to claim 11, further comprising a dispensing appliance that is adapted to act upon the chamber rows directly and consecutively.
 28. The dispensing device according claim 21, wherein the surface of the chamber is provided on its film side with a concave portion or the chamber is folded on its film side in order to provide a volume increase when filled. 